Why did Jesus tell Mary Magdalene not to touch him and later permits Thomas to touch him? The “touch” in the KJV’s “touch me not” (John 20:17) comes from the Greek term haptomai, which carries with it the idea of not only touching someone, but in certain contexts “clinging” to them. Thus, the ESV and… Read More Bible Q&A: Why Did Jesus Tell Mary Not To Touch Him and Later Permits Thomas to Touch Him?
As I type this, Russian helicopters are flying over Ukrainian villages. People in Ukraine, likely including people I know and have taught and baptized years ago, are suffering and dying. From my perspective, all of this is happening because of greed and selfishness. It’s such a waste. It’s needless and it’s horrible. Why does God allow it to happen?… Read More If God Exists, Why Do Evil and Suffering Exist?: Defining Evil
I read a lot about “laying hands on people” in the Bible. Please explain. It was done to give a blessing (Gen. 48:14ff; Matt. 19:13-15). It was done while offering sacrifices in the Old Testament (Lev. 3:1ff; 4:4; 16:21; Num. 8:12). It was done to appoint someone to an office or responsibility (Num. 27:18-23; Acts… Read More Bible Q&A: A Question About Laying on of Hands
It is impossible for anyone to overcome sin in their lives if they do not give serious thought as to why they commit that sin in the first place. Thus, God gives us the reason we fight amongst ourselves. The “source of quarrels and conflicts among you” is “your pleasures that wage war in your members” (4:1). We want things that please US, which give US pleasure, which make US happy. SELF is our highest priority. When we care most about SELF, what happens?… Read More James: The Source of Quarrels and Conflicts
Please explain 1 Peter 3:21’s statement about baptism not removing dirt from the body but being an appeal to God for a good conscience. “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of… Read More Bible Q&A: A Question About Baptism and 1 Peter 3:21
Pre-Denominational Christianity 
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